This is a powerful national initiative uniting countless participants to raise awareness and funds for pancreatic cancer research. Individuals rally family and friends, while businesses building team spirit and creating lifelong memories.
From walking and running to biking, yoga, and more, the Movement is designed to be accessible anywhere. This year, we’re introducing an in-person kickoff event to celebrate together and foster community among those impacted by cancer. Every step supports early detection research and life-saving programs.
Different Ways to Participate
This year, our goal is to raise $50,000 through Sky Movement — enough to fund one full research seed grant.
Sky Foundation specializes in seed funding: early-stage grants that support bold, innovative, and sometimes high-risk research ideas that traditional funding sources often won’t back yet. These projects start with a seed — promising science that needs initial support to generate data and prove potential.
That early investment can launch independent labs, attract millions in NIH funding, and ultimately move discoveries from the bench to the bedside.
Every team, every donation, and every step taken helps plant the next seed for breakthrough pancreatic cancer research.
The Sky Movement is about doing something you enjoy while raising awareness and funds for pancreatic cancer research. Your movement can be simple, creative, or deeply personal—it’s about bringing people together around a cause that matters.
Individual or Group Movement Ideas
- An organized walk or bike ride
- Pickleball, volleyball, or basketball tournaments
- Yoga or fitness class
- A game night
- Community gathering or backyard event
- Friendly competition with friends or coworkers
Business Movement Ideas
- Donate a portion of a day’s sales to Sky Foundation
- Host a special event at your business with proceeds benefiting the Movement
- Sell a featured product or item with proceeds donated to the cause
- Organize a workplace fundraising challenge
- Sponsor a team and encourage employees to participate
Whether you gather at the kickoff event or create your own Movement, every action helps raise awareness and fund innovative pancreatic cancer research.
The Sky Movement 2026 Leaderboard
On the morning of May 17, 2026, Sky Foundation officially kicked off the 2026 Sky Movement with a powerful morning of community, advocacy, education, and hope at LegaSea Aquarium in Utica, Michigan. Thanks to the incredibly generous partnership of the LegaSea team, supporters, survivors, families, physicians, researchers, and advocates gathered together to raise awareness and move the mission of pancreatic cancer research forward.
The morning began with presentations from featured speakers including Annie Dalton Flores, Executive Director of Sky Foundation, Lori Barczyk of LegaSea Aquarium & The Reptarium, pancreatic surgeon Dr. David Kwon of Henry Ford Health, and researchers Drs. Ralph Francescone and Débora Barbosa Vendramini-Costa of the Vendramini-Francescone Lab at Henry Ford Health. Together, they shared messages of advocacy, innovation, collaboration, and the exciting progress being made in pancreatic cancer research and patient care.
Following the presentations, participants walked together from LegaSea Aquarium to Grant Park for a community Movement Walk honoring loved ones, supporting those currently fighting pancreatic cancer, and remembering those we have lost. Once at the pavilion, attendees heard from two inspiring Sky Movement team leaders: Lori Zieman of Team Mickey and Veronica Williams-Hernalsteen of Team Veronica. Veronica spoke passionately about pancreatic cancer symptoms, education, and the importance of advocating for your health, while Lori reflected on honoring loved ones, survivors, and those whose memories continue to inspire this movement forward.
The morning concluded with a beautiful and uplifting community bubble activity, symbolizing hope, remembrance, and the continued momentum behind pancreatic cancer awareness and research.
We are deeply grateful to LegaSea Aquarium & The Reptarium for hosting this year’s kickoff event and for their continued partnership and generosity. We also extend a special thank you to InfiniTeas for providing refreshments for our guests, and Flores Photo Design for beautifully capturing the morning through photography and media coverage.
Most importantly, thank you to every participant, donor, team leader, volunteer, survivor, family member, and advocate who showed up to support the Sky Movement. Because of you, we continue moving closer toward better treatments, earlier detection, and hope for families impacted by pancreatic cancer.
Thank you to our Kickoff Partners
